Russia to upgrade its combat capability - fighter jets, bombers,helicopters, airbases, new pilot group..

The combat capacity of the Russian Air Force will significantly increase as it gets new advanced fighter jets, bombers and helicopters. The number of airbases will increase from 8 up to 14 by 2020. Russia will set up a new pilot group besides the existing “Strizhi” and “Russian Knights”. This was stated by the Commander-in-Chief of Russia’s Air Force Colonel-General Zelin.

All this is quite promising but the main thing is to fulfill the plan, says the editor-in-chief of the daily, “Nezavisimoe Voennoe Obozrenie” Victor Litovkin commenting on the statement by Alexander Zelin. As part of Russia’s State Armament Programme, the Air Force will purchase over a thousand helicopters. In fact, Russian helicopters excel similar ones produced by western companies in their technical and tactical characteristics as well as reliability, says Victor Litovkin.

“It’s important that the Air Force will get new helicopters. Among these are K-52-Aligator and Mi-28H, which are all-weather helicopters that can fly round the clock to support ground forces. Moreover, Mi-37 helicopter will be developed. The quality of Russian helicopters is confirmed by the fact that Americans buy them for the Afghan army,” says Victor Litovkin.

This year, the Air Force will get several Su-34 fighter bomber aircraft. In their manoeuvrability and the possibility of fulfilling tasks, these aircraft are close to long-range bombers. Su-34 can fly from Moscow to Vladivostok refueling in air twice. During such a flight pilots do not get tired because the aircraft is equipped with an autopilot.

The new pilot group will use light aircraft and this paves the way for displaying new talents, says Victor Litovkin.

“Americans, French, British and Italians fly training aircraft rather than fighter jets. Only the Russian aerobatic groups, “Strizhi” and “Russian Knights” fly Su-30 and MiG-29 fighter jets. Their flights leave an unforgettable impression, of course. Generally, combat aircraft is always better than a training plane. However, Russian pilots are not used to colouring the sky with various smokes. They amaze the audience with their piloting skills, manoeuvrability and coordination. It’s quite a difficult task to draw the Russian flag using coloured smoke or a heart pierced by an arrow as French and Italian pilots do using fighter jets, and this is too risky,” Victor Litovkin said.

This is the reason why a new pilot group will be set up, and it will use Yak-130 training and combat jets.

The Commander–in-Chief of Russia’s Air Force said that Russia would get A-100 advanced airborne warning and control system plane by 2016. He believes that this might happen even earlier.

Source:  http://english.ruvr.ru